Attorney Biographies

The lawyers at our firm typically started their careers with a judicial clerkship and/or several years at one of the nation's largest and most respected firms. We attract attorneys who wish to continue to have the highest quality legal work, but prefer the informality and atmosphere of a small firm. We are uncompromising in hiring only the most exceptionally qualified individuals, in terms of both academic background and hands-on experience in litigation and appellate matters.

Please feel free to call or e-mail any of our attorneys if you would like more information or would like to discuss a legal matter.

J. HAMPTON SKELTON

Hamp Skelton is a native of Atlanta, Georgia. He graduated from Princeton University cum laude in 1978 with a degree in history, and graduated from the University of Texas School of Law with honors in 1981. He joined Vinson & Elkins in Houston upon graduating and practiced in its antitrust and commercial litigation section. He moved to Austin in 1986, becoming partner in charge of litigation at Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld's Austin office. His present law office opened in September, 1991.

Hamp is a member of the bars of the states of Texas and Georgia, the United States Supreme Court, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and of the U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western Districts of Texas. His practice encompasses a wide spectrum of litigation areas, with special expertise in coverage litigation, insurance regulatory litigation, lender liability, consumer protection/deceptive trade, securities fraud, racketeering, director and officer liability, and intellectual property. He has broad experience at the pretrial, trial and appellate levels, in both the state and federal courts, as well as expertise before the Texas administrative and regulatory agencies.

E-mail address: hskelton@skeltonwoody.com

ROBERT J. WOODY

Robert Woody retired from the practice of law to join the ministry. He is the rector of the Episcopal Church of Reconciliation in San Antonio.

See - http://www.churchofreconciliation.org

ALYSIA G. WIGHTMAN

Alysia Wightman is an Austin native who graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 1985. She graduated with honors from the University of Texas School of Law in 1992, where she was elected to the Order of the Coif. She joined Vinson & Elkins in Austin and practiced in the litigation section. At her former firm, Alysia represented a variety of insurers in the areas of insurance defense, bad faith, premium fraud, contract, and employment matters. Alysia joined the firm in 1995, where her practice focuses on bad faith and coverage litigation, commercial litigation, and appeals. Alysia is licensed to practice in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas.

E-mail address: agwightman@skeltonwoody.com

EVA C. RAMOS

Eva Ramos is a Houston native who received her undergraduate degree in theater and communications from the University of South Florida in 1984. She graduated from South Texas College of Law, magna cum laude in 1989. In law school, Eva served on the South Texas Law Review, the order of the Lytea, and was a member of Phi Delta Phi. Upon graduation from law school, Eva served as a briefing attorney for the Texas Supreme Court from 1988-1989. From 1989 to 1995, Eva worked at Vinson & Elkins in Austin in the litigation section where she practiced principally in the areas of tort and business litigation, with an emphasis in cases involving products liability, professional malpractice, personal injury and defense of extra contractual claims against insurers. Eva joined the firm in November 1995, where her practice focuses on insurance coverage and bad faith litigation, commercial litigation, and intellectual property litigation.

E-mail address: eramos@skeltonwoody.com

STEPHANIE CLARK

Stephanie Clark joined the firm in 2004, having spent her first years of practice with Winstead Sechrest & Minick in Houston. Stephanie is a graduate of Texas Tech University and a magna cum laude graduate of St. Mary's University School of Law in San Antonio. In law school, Stephanie served on the St. Mary's Law Journal, and was a member of the John M. Harlan Honor Society, Phi Delta Phi, and Order of the Barristers. Prior to joining Skelton & Woody, she practiced in a broad range of business litigation areas. She has particular expertise in bankruptcy litigation, real estate, joint venture disputes and complex commercial litigation including workout matters for financial institutions, debt collection, contract claims, NASD Arbitration claims for securities fraud, fraud and shareholder liability claims, construction and insurance disputes. In 2004, Stephanie was named by her peers as a "Texas Rising Star" in Texas Monthly, July 2004.

E-mail address: sclark@skeltonwoody.com

EDWARD F. KAYE

Edward F. Kaye is originally from Brooklyn, New York. He graduated from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas with a Bachelor of Arts in History, and from the University of Texas School of Law in 1999. Upon graduation from Law School, he served as a briefing attorney to Justice Paul W. Green of Texas' Fourth District Court of Appeals in San Antonio during the Court's 1999-2000 term. Prior to joining Skelton & Woody, Mr. Kaye served as an Assistant District Attorney in Hays County, Texas. His current practice involves insurance bad faith litigation, general commercial litigation and appellate matters.

E-mail address: ekaye@skeltonwoody.com

MEGAN MADDOX NEAL

Megan Maddox Neal is a native of Holland, Michigan, who graduated cum laude from the Hope College in Michigan with a Bachelor of Business Administration and Spanish. She graduated from the Loyola University New Orleans School of Law in 2003. While in New Orleans, she externed for United States District Judge Carl Barbier. Since joining the firm, her practice has focused on insurance litigation, construction litigation and appeals.

E-mail address: mneal@skeltonwoody.com

ANDY NEAL

Andy Neal is a Houston, Texas native, who graduated from Northern Arizona University. He graduated from the Loyola University New Orleans School of Law in 2003 and has practiced commercial litigation since joining the firm.

E-mail: aneal@skeltonwoody.com

Skelton & Woody Support Staff

Legal Asistant

Kristina Bastian, with 17 years experience as a legal assistant, has been with the firm since 1997.

Office Manager

Debbie Tucker is our office manager and bookkeeper. She joined Skelton & Woody eleven years ago from Brown McCarroll.  She is always available to answer any billing-related question or to connect our clients with the right person to answer their question.

Legal Secretaries

Jill McClure, Pam Glass, or Laurie Brodeur. Our clients should feel free to call on any of them for anything they need.

Claudia Carillo is our receptionist and assists Debbie Tucker with bookkeeping and accounting matters.

Additional staff include Blair Renner and Cam Rogers.